Orthodontists Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for orthodontistss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Connecticut$412,100
- Colorado$404,120
- Illinois$335,910
- Pennsylvania$327,330
- Michigan$327,310
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $412,100 | $478,680 | $198 | +58.9% | — |
| 2 | Colorado | $404,120 | $416,000 | $194 | +55.8% | 160 |
| 3 | Illinois | $335,910 | $343,100 | $162 | +29.5% | — |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $327,330 | $311,180 | $157 | +26.2% | — |
| 5 | Michigan | $327,310 | $357,090 | $157 | +26.2% | 140 |
| 6 | Maryland | $315,180 | $361,030 | $152 | +21.5% | — |
| 7 | Tennessee | $302,050 | $339,610 | $145 | +16.4% | — |
| 8 | Missouri | $295,460 | $332,630 | $142 | +13.9% | — |
| 9 | South Carolina | $292,350 | $311,450 | $141 | +12.7% | — |
| 10 | North Carolina | $277,320 | $224,990 | $133 | +6.9% | 160 |
| 11 | Washington | $276,250 | $290,430 | $133 | +6.5% | 290 |
| 12 | Maine | $263,020 | $301,250 | $126 | +1.4% | 60 |
| 13 | Montana | $257,230 | $312,840 | $124 | -0.8% | — |
| 14 | Alabama | $246,170 | $253,670 | $118 | -5.1% | — |
| 15 | Arizona | $242,650 | $272,330 | $117 | -6.5% | 120 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $225,580 | $212,860 | $108 | -13% | 90 |
| 17 | Ohio | $206,430 | $219,300 | $99 | -20.4% | 250 |
| 18 | New York | $188,400 | $172,980 | $91 | -27.4% | 130 |
| 19 | Georgia | $167,240 | $159,230 | $80 | -35.5% | — |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 16 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $361,650 | $279,600 | — |
| 2 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $361,040 | $331,720 | — |
| 3 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $324,280 | $259,930 | 50 |
| 4 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $323,460 | $281,120 | — |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $318,070 | $277,590 | — |
| 6 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $311,180 | $303,220 | — |
| 7 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $281,850 | $317,690 | — |
| 8 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $272,330 | $248,410 | 100 |
| 9 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $248,110 | $285,910 | — |
| 10 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $199,990 | $278,540 | — |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing orthodontistss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Medical and Surgical Hospitals, Privately Owned | $409,460 | $372,120 | 90 |
| 2 | Hospitals | $296,750 | $325,260 | 110 |
| 3 | Hospitals, Privately Owned | $296,750 | $329,930 | 110 |
| 4 | Ambulatory Health Care Services | $290,430 | $258,810 | 6,060 |
| 5 | Sector 62 - Health Care and Social Assistance | $290,430 | $260,010 | 6,170 |
| 6 | Cross-Industry, Private, Federal, State, and Local | $289,140 | $259,400 | 6,210 |
| 7 | Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $289,140 | $259,530 | 6,200 |
| 8 | Offices of Dentists | $287,960 | $256,550 | 5,990 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do orthodontists make in the U.S.?
The median orthodontists salary in the United States is $289,140 per year (mean $259,400), and about 80% earn between $99,850 and $416,000.
How much do orthodontists make per hour?
Roughly $125 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $259,400 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays orthodontists the most?
Connecticut has the highest average pay for orthodontists at $412,100 per year (median $478,680).
What is the job outlook for orthodontists?
Employment is projected to change +4.4% from 2024 to 2034 (Faster than average), with about 200 openings per year.
What People Search
Common U.S. search queries related to this occupation.